An Arabic Qur'an

In spite of what the title of my book might appear to imply, I make it very clear in the first chapter that only the Arabic Qur'an is the Qur'an, and that there is no adequate substitute for reading the Qur'an in Arabic. However, I also make it clear that because most people, non-Muslim and Muslim alike, lack proficiency in reading and understanding Classical Arabic, there is much that can be learned about the structure and content of the Qur'an, and about the doctrine and early history of Islam, through reading an English (or other modern language) translation of the Qur'an.
Reciting passages from the Qur'an (in Arabic) during prayer, or in its entirety during Ramadan, are an integral part of Islamic religious practice and spirituality, but more is expected. In several places, it is clearly stated in the Qur'an that its contents have been purposely provided in Arabic so that they are accessible and comprehensible to those who will hear the message - "We have sent it down as an Arabic Qur'an so that you [people] may understand" (12:2).
Fourteen centuries after the fact, and living in a world where Islam has spread far beyond the Arabian peninsula, surely it is desirable for people to learn something about Islam through reading a translation of the Qur'an rather than remaining in a state of ignorance imposed by a language barrier.